Crystal River current. [volume] (Crystal, Colo.) 1886-18??, 1887-08-13
THE QUEENS ROMANCE.
VICTORIA OF ENGLAND PREPARING
FOR THE PRINCE CONSORT.

and the Widows Heartbroken Anguish.
There is something of the enchant-
ment OF fairy love about the story of
the courtshp and betrothal of Queen
Victoria King. Leopold of Belgium,
the 1avorite uncle of the young queen,
who had always exercised loving SUI
perVlslon OF her early training, brought
about visit of Prince Albert of Saye-
Coburg-Gotha and his brother to Eng
land in order that Victoria. who was
then but 20 years old, might be broucl,
IN contact with them. 1t was not hint
cd mat she was expected to look upon
one OF the princes As possible hus-
oand. Her good uncle intended that
IN case affection developed love should
take its course. His plans resulted
most happily and a sympathy of dispo-
silions Ind of tastes soon led to
stronger bond between Victoria and
'he gentle, cultured Albert. Their first
ii" .etng was at ball The youthful
Queen and the prince were both there,
and the queen gave the prince bou-
quet. What to do with the gift was a
puzzle to the possessor, but it was only
for a moment he stood in doubt. TAX
ing out his knife he cut slit in the
trnic he wore, and right there
over his heart-placed securely the
blossoms the royal lady had given him.
He had just a few days before come
from his own home over the sea, and
the queen asked him how he liked
England. ooh, very much.' Next day
the question was asked again, and
once or twice oftener it was put, until
at length the queen, with a sweet tre-
NOR in hervoice and the mantling blush
OF the rose in her face, ventured to say,
would you like to stay n Englandp'
1t was in this fashion that the ordinary
conditions of the momentous event
were reversed and the man said Yes
to the woman's question.
The queen wrote to King Leopold:
Il told Albert this morning of it. The
warm affection he showed me on learn
ing this gave me great pleasure. He
seems perfection; and l think that I
have the prospect of very great happi-
ness before me. l love him more than
can say, and shall do everything in
my power to render this sacrifice (for
such, in my opinion, it is) as small as
can. He seems to have great tact-a
very necessary thing in his position.
These few days have passed like
dream to me, and l am so bewildercd
by it all that I know hardly how to
write: but do feel very happy"
Prlnce Albert wrote as follows to his
grandmother, the Dowager duchess of
Gotha, who had filled a mothers place
to him:
''Ih2 queen sent for me alone
TO n er room few days ago and
aec AIRED to me, in a genuine outburst
OF love and affection, that had
gained her whole heart and would
make her supremely happy if |
would make her the sacrifice of
sharing her life with her; for she said
she looked on it as a sacrifice. The
only thing that troubled her was that
she did not think she was worthy of
me. The joyous openness of the man
her in which she told me this quite en-
chanted me, and | was quite carried
away by it. She is really most good
and amiable ana ] am quite sure that
we shall be happy together
Then the queen called her council and
announced her marriage. In her diary
she wrote:
The room was full, but I hardly
knew who who was there. Lord Mel |
bourne saw looking kindly at me with
tears in his eyes. but he was not near
me. ] then read my short declaration.
felt that my hands shook. but did
not make one mistake. l felt most
happy and thankful when it was over.
One of the ladies, excusably curious
on the matter, asked the queen after
ward if it d d not make her nervous to
have to make such an announcement
to the council. We are told that the
reply was: 90, no; that | considered
simply as matter of business; but 1
did feel some embarrassment in making
known to the prince my feelings in his
regards"
Next came the era of love letters
while the prince was making his pre-
paration in Coburg to become an En-
glishman. He could but use the words
Of every true lover in high or low
estate: ''All that I have to say is that
while possess your love they cannot
make me unhappy And so the weeks
passed, and when February came the |
prince landed at Dover, to be welded
now to England as well as to England's
queen, and was received joyously by
the people. When he drove up to
Buckingham palace it was to find his
bride standing at the outer door eager
to welcome HIM" He was naturalized
on the following day and created field
marshal of England.
There was great bril]iancy and dis
play at the marriage ceremony, but it
was not without its simple touches.
The queen herself acted with excellent
Taste. She was wiser than some of her
courtiers. The archbishop of Canter-
bury came to her with some perturba-
ton and the suggestion that as she was
queen the passage in the ritual bringing
ii. the vow of obedlance should be al
tered in her case. 81 do not mean to
be the less a wife though am queen"
said the bride firmly and sensibly, and
on no account would she allow any